Dennis Herfel

LODI/MADISON - Dennis Robert Herfel, age 88, of Lodi, passed away on Monday, March 31, 2025, at home with family by his side.  He was born January 9, 1937, in Madison, the son of Andrew and Glenice (Scott) Herfel.  He was a proud 1954 graduate of Madison Central High School - the Downtowners.

Dennis had many jobs throughout his life.  He started his life as a paper boy, and Harvey Kuehn (a past Milwaukee Brewers Coach), a UW athlete, was one of his customers.

He worked at Sears when it was located on East Washington in Madison for many years.

After moving to Waterloo, WI to raise his children, he worked for the city, Artcraft Printing, and the local post office.  In fact, he was the first in the U.S. to sort bulk zip-coded mail.  He was proud that the U.S. Postmaster came to observe. He owned and operated Herfel's Huddle for many years.  He then joined Royle Publishing as a folder operator, where he developed many long relationships.  From there he was employed at the UW-Surplus in Madison, retiring in 1995.

He asked Sandra (Wilcox) to marry him one month after their first date and they would have celebrated 44 years this September.  He and Sandy were true soul mates and best friends.  They deeply loved each other.

Dennis was a huge WI Badger football and basketball fan.  He started going to the football games in 1947 and did not miss a game until 1981.  He held season tickets for both football and basketball.  He also attended several bowl games with his son, Mike.  He was such a fan that he had a Badger tattoo put on his arm in 1990 - very proud of that; and he had a Badger den that was once featured in the newspaper.

He discovered golf when he turned 50 and golfed at least three days a week after that.  He had two holes-in one - in 2002 and 2020 (with his son, Mike, witnessing it).  He also made many friends while golfing, including Jeff and Tom.

He and his Sandy loved to travel by car - they saw every state west of the Mississippi many times.  They took two cruises to Alaska - the second one with his daughter, Terre, her husband, Dennis, and friends, Paul and Carla Hubler.  They also took a couple of trips to Las Vegas with his family - son Jim and Jeni, daughter Terre and Dennis, daughter Kathy, and son Mike.

Dennis is survived by his wife; seven children, Julie Herfel (Rab Bauman), Terre Hubler (Dennis), Kathleen Herfel, Lorrie Herfel, Jim (Jeni) Herfel, Cheryl Herfel (Linnell Franklin), and Michael Herfel; ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; friend Dick Barry (his best man); golfing buddies Jeff Toseff and Tom Korpady; and special friend Jim Williams.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Maxine Bartosch, brother, James, daughter, Janice, stepson, Fred Struck, sister-in-law Deb Johnson, good friend Sam Vultaggio, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

A special thank you to his daughter, Kathy, and grandson, Andrew Dennis Herfel, for their help in the last year; as well as the nurses and staff at Agrace.

A visitation will be held at the LODI UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 130 Locust Street in Lodi, on Tuesday, April 22, from 10 to Noon, with the funeral service to follow with Pastor Carlos officiating.  In memory of Dennis, it is requested that you wear UW Badger apparel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the family.

For more information and online condolences please visit www.gundersonfh.com

Gunderson Lodi

Funeral & Cremation Care

157 S. Main St.

(608) 592-3201